The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Senate are facing fierce opposition over their planned prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume bottles (below 200ml), with an enforcement date slated for December 2025.
The Concerned Citizen For Change (CCC), a civil society organization, has publicly and vehemently condemned the directive, labeling it “draconic” and “illegal.”
During a press conference held in Abuja, Comrade Godwin Chukwudi, the National Coordinator of CCC, specifically targeted NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, and the Senate for pushing the controversial policy.
The CCC argues the ban is “illegal and undemocratic,” claiming NAFDAC bypassed resolutions previously agreed upon with the Federal Ministry of Health and the House of Representatives, and failed to consult key industry stakeholders. Comrade Chukwudi stressed that this action directly contradicts the economic agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The group also suggested the Senate’s resolution was passed solely at NAFDAC’s urging without due process for the affected industry.
Massive Economic Fallout Projected
In a stark warning, the organization projected severe economic consequences, including a potential loss of over N1.9 trillion in investment from indigenous Nigerian companies. According to Chukwudi, the ban could trigger mass retrenchment, directly affecting over 500,000 employees and an estimated 5 million indirect jobs, alongside a predicted reduction in manufacturing sector capacity utilization.
The CCC dismissed NAFDAC’s primary justification—”abuse by minors”—as insufficient for outright prohibition. The group highlighted that a recent high-powered stakeholders’ committee in October 2025 had validated the National Alcohol Policy, with its key recommendations focusing instead on:
- Robust enforcement.
- Licensing of liquor stores.
- Enlightenment campaigns against underage consumption.
Demands for Immediate Intervention
The Concerned Citizen For Change concluded by issuing a series of strong demands to halt the policy and promote dialogue:
- The Minister of Health must immediately endorse the validated draft of the Nigeria National Alcohol Policy.
- The Senate should immediately rescind its Order and call for a public consultation or hearing on the matter.
- NAFDAC must be restrained from implementing the “illegal ban.”
The group went a step further, demanding that NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, should either “desist from further running the agency like a private business enterprise… or resign.”
Comrade Chukwudi urged all parties to prioritize dialogue to ensure that regulatory decisions support, rather than cripple, local businesses and exacerbate the national unemployment crisis.
Would you like me to focus on a different angle, such as the legal and democratic arguments, or summarize the group’s specific demands?